1
as in ripping
to cause (something) to separate into jagged pieces by violently pulling at it
angrily tore the letter to shreds
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in yanking
to separate or remove by forceful pulling
tore the book from his hand
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in hurrying
to proceed or move quickly
she tore out of the room as soon as the phone started to ring
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tearing
New Atlas, 29 Oct. 2025
After tearing through the Bahamas, Melissa will accelerate into the Atlantic Ocean, potentially impacting Bermuda by Thursday and Friday.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025
Uncrumpling a dollar bill, feeding it into a pull tab machine then tearing back the strips, one by one, to reveal a possible win.
—Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 28 Oct. 2025
These extreme wind speeds can cause catastrophic damage, leveling homes, tearing off roofs, and crippling infrastructure.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Mamdani, who also has a bright political future, is tearing the Democrat Party apart, splitting leftist radicals from moderate or even liberal Democrats.
—Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 27 Oct. 2025
Ronnie watches helplessly from the projection booth as the baby flies around the theater, brutally tearing the others apart.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 27 Oct. 2025
Fred VanVleet, who started at point guard for Houston last season, will miss the entire year after tearing his ACL.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 22 Oct. 2025
Dramatic photos of the demolition work showed construction equipment tearing into the East Wing façade and windows and other building parts in tatters on the ground.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
In addition, writing with them required great concentration to avoid splattering ink or tearing the paper with the sharp metal nib.
—New Atlas, 29 Oct. 2025
After tearing through the Bahamas, Melissa will accelerate into the Atlantic Ocean, potentially impacting Bermuda by Thursday and Friday.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025
Uncrumpling a dollar bill, feeding it into a pull tab machine then tearing back the strips, one by one, to reveal a possible win.
—Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 28 Oct. 2025
These extreme wind speeds can cause catastrophic damage, leveling homes, tearing off roofs, and crippling infrastructure.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Mamdani, who also has a bright political future, is tearing the Democrat Party apart, splitting leftist radicals from moderate or even liberal Democrats.
—Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 27 Oct. 2025
Ronnie watches helplessly from the projection booth as the baby flies around the theater, brutally tearing the others apart.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 27 Oct. 2025
Fred VanVleet, who started at point guard for Houston last season, will miss the entire year after tearing his ACL.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 22 Oct. 2025
Dramatic photos of the demolition work showed construction equipment tearing into the East Wing façade and windows and other building parts in tatters on the ground.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tearing
Verb
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Check out video of Flav watching practice, posing with members of Team USA and ripping down the track in a bobsled and skeleton.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
28 Oct. 2025
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Adidas did the same thing with an AE1 commercial ripping a bunch of shoes, including LaMelo Ball’s shoe with Puma.—
Zach Harper,
New York Times,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In both cases, as the danger was spreading through the waters of the Florida reefs, scientists were busily yanking surviving corals out of the water and saving them in aquariums across the state.—
Alex Harris,
Miami Herald,
24 Oct. 2025
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Mel Brooks’ best comedy shares many similarities with his other revered films – a strong grip of genre beats, a non-stop barrage of gags yanking us forward, and an eagerness to give every performer a chance to comedically shine.—
Rory Doherty,
Vulture,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In the footage, the children could be seen hurrying off the bus and onto the woman’s porch as the smoke grew.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
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Pedestrians are hurrying past to find their places on Fifth Avenue, but the girls have a different kind of readiness about them.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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One spring day in Paris many years ago, my wife, Diana, a most penetrating photographer, capable of seeing like no one else, decided, as an experiment, to walk across the city blindfolded.—
Hisham Matar,
Harper's Magazine,
2 Aug. 2024
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Since the war began in Gaza, more than six months ago, the Israeli magazine +972 has published some of the most penetrating reporting on the Israel Defense Forces’ conduct.—
Isaac Chotiner,
The New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2024
Verb
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These are especially useful for taking public transport, grabbing a quick coffee, or leaving a small tip at a restaurant.—
Asia London Palomba,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Oct. 2025
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Peterson led the way, scoring 26 points — 24 before halftime — and grabbing four rebounds.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Features like undo/redo, mute/unmute, scrolling, and taking screenshots are instantly accessible, significantly speeding up the workflow.—
Maryna Holovnova,
New Atlas,
4 Nov. 2025
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Federal agencies also released a longer plan meant to strengthen the American beef industry, including speeding up deregulation.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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But usually the administration official doesn’t fight back in such a biting way.—
David Lightman,
Sacbee.com,
7 Oct. 2025
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Over nearly three decades, Baumbach has built a career chronicling families in crisis and artists at the crossroads, his films combining biting wit with an unflinching emotional honesty.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Diego Pavia’s Heisman Trophy campaign certainly wasn’t bolstered by a stat line of 149 total yards, one rushing touchdown and one interception.—
Quentin Corpuel,
Kansas City Star,
31 Oct. 2025
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Thomas starred for the Vikings with 205 yards rushing on 16 carries and 3 TD runs of his own.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tearing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tearing. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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